Ruth Kelly
- Thread starter clivex
- Start date
So, what was dyslexia before it was dyslexia? What was known about this prior to, er, well, NOW? And autism? I'm astounded at so many children with autism - and that families can rack up three kids with the condition, too. Stats c/o the Beeb tonight are that ONE IN FIVE kids in school have some sort of 'learning disability'.
Bar - you're using Ardross's art of argument here, I see - insult contributors first, then if they will persist, just carry on grinding away until they disembowel themselves rather than keep holding their line!
It's hilarious, this: on the BBC News tonight it says that Labour closed 100 special needs schools and said that the attendees would do 'better' in regular classes! Yeah, it's clearly working really well when the ex-Edukashun Sekkitry has no faith in the system. The very stuff of 'Yes, Minister'!
Bar - you're using Ardross's art of argument here, I see - insult contributors first, then if they will persist, just carry on grinding away until they disembowel themselves rather than keep holding their line!
It's hilarious, this: on the BBC News tonight it says that Labour closed 100 special needs schools and said that the attendees would do 'better' in regular classes! Yeah, it's clearly working really well when the ex-Edukashun Sekkitry has no faith in the system. The very stuff of 'Yes, Minister'!
G
Griffin
Guest
Above all else Ruth Kelly is a mother and she has to do whatever she feels is best for her child regardless of who she is.
I've told you before that I suffer from it to a mild degree, I spell sound alike words, and mispsell etc yet I still have a first class degree? I'm probably lucky is so far as most of my errors can be forgiven in so far as most people can see what I was trying to say and those who know me, can accomodate me. For the most part, verbally, I assure you I can articulate myself. Alright you get the odd moderator on here who thinks its funny, so be it. :teeth:
Is Kelly a hypocrit?
How many Labour party cabinet members have put their children in private schools? There's no shortage of them, she's just the latest. Does it make me sick? No, not in the slightest, I just find it typical of the hypocracy of labour (I used to be a member but left in the early 90's).
Muttley
At the Start
As with general education, unfortunately, the quality of SEN provision varies according to location/education authority.
In the current financial climate good SEN provision can, however, become a bit of a poisoned chalice for a local authority. I live in Northamptonshire, where the education provision in mainstream schools for youngsters with autism has, historically, been excellent (I am not certain if this is confined to youngsters with autism - it may be true of learning disabilities in general). As a result, families with children with an ASD were attracted into the area. The first tranche of those children have now reached school leaving age and, lo-and-behold, there is nowhere for them to go - although some are able to access college immediately, others either need a transitional point to prepare them for the new environment of a college and yet others may never be able to move into college. One of the stumbling blocks to providing for these youngsters is funding. Unfortunately, they fall into a black hole because they are old enough to leave school (16), which causes difficulties with their funding through education but they are too young to receive funding from Social Care (adults). Where I work, we have set up a transitional college in association with one of the local FE colleges but we are still fighting for funding from the Learning and Skills Council.
With reference to the appropriateness of inclusion, it is right for some and not for others.
In the current financial climate good SEN provision can, however, become a bit of a poisoned chalice for a local authority. I live in Northamptonshire, where the education provision in mainstream schools for youngsters with autism has, historically, been excellent (I am not certain if this is confined to youngsters with autism - it may be true of learning disabilities in general). As a result, families with children with an ASD were attracted into the area. The first tranche of those children have now reached school leaving age and, lo-and-behold, there is nowhere for them to go - although some are able to access college immediately, others either need a transitional point to prepare them for the new environment of a college and yet others may never be able to move into college. One of the stumbling blocks to providing for these youngsters is funding. Unfortunately, they fall into a black hole because they are old enough to leave school (16), which causes difficulties with their funding through education but they are too young to receive funding from Social Care (adults). Where I work, we have set up a transitional college in association with one of the local FE colleges but we are still fighting for funding from the Learning and Skills Council.
With reference to the appropriateness of inclusion, it is right for some and not for others.
And that's the real prob, isn't it, Muttley? It's a case of all or nothing when governments get their tails up about dicking around with various systems. Some of these kids must feel like hell when they're shoved into a class as the only one with difficulties. If they're really lucky, they might get to make real friends, but sadly it's so often a retrograde step, as far from being told how 'special' they are (as Mummy and Daddy will probably have done), they can be taunted or shunned because they're 'different'. 'Inclusion' is all very fine-sounding on paper, and when addressed by well-educated adults, but it's a totally different thing seen through the perspective of children's perceptions.
Gareth, all I can remember (when a child myself) is that some children were referred to as 'a little slow' by my Mother. It seemed a reasonable-enough term at the time, covering Down's Syndrome to whatever else ailed the wee things. I was always told this was unfortunate, and that we should always be nice to them, because it wasn't something they could help. Sadly, not a view shared by all parents, presumably, some of whose offspring I heard refer to them exactly as Clivex has done.
Gareth, all I can remember (when a child myself) is that some children were referred to as 'a little slow' by my Mother. It seemed a reasonable-enough term at the time, covering Down's Syndrome to whatever else ailed the wee things. I was always told this was unfortunate, and that we should always be nice to them, because it wasn't something they could help. Sadly, not a view shared by all parents, presumably, some of whose offspring I heard refer to them exactly as Clivex has done.
Bar the Bull
At the Start
When did I insult the contributors?
I am genuinely confused
Anybody rising to Clivex's bait... is more of a plankhead than he is. Quite a lot of us are plankheads, then, but do we care? I prefer to call it 'a reasoned response'... 
It's an interesting topic, though, since it seems to be vexing the Labour party considerably more than any of their opponents. I suppose having closed a large number of special needs schools - one of which might have served Ms Kelly's child - doesn't add to their attractiveness on home issues. Her own cause isn't helped much by the schools authority in Tower Hamlets (her constituency) asserting that they have an extremely good record in integrating special needs children into their mainstream - I imagine her action comes as an almighty smack in the mouth to them, too. Good result all round - I think in football terms it's an own goal!
It's an interesting topic, though, since it seems to be vexing the Labour party considerably more than any of their opponents. I suppose having closed a large number of special needs schools - one of which might have served Ms Kelly's child - doesn't add to their attractiveness on home issues. Her own cause isn't helped much by the schools authority in Tower Hamlets (her constituency) asserting that they have an extremely good record in integrating special needs children into their mainstream - I imagine her action comes as an almighty smack in the mouth to them, too. Good result all round - I think in football terms it's an own goal!
Bar the Bull
At the Start
I was calling him a plankhead for his description of children with learning difficulties as plankheads, which Ardross removed. I think that it was a merited insult.
Krizon, I don't see how my giving a practical example of when a child benefited from a move similar to that being taken by Ms. Kelly's daughter is "grinding away until they disembowel..."
But you clearly know more than me about what I am writing.
Krizon, I don't see how my giving a practical example of when a child benefited from a move similar to that being taken by Ms. Kelly's daughter is "grinding away until they disembowel..."
But you clearly know more than me about what I am writing.
I imagine every parent wants what's best for its child, or it'd be a very strange parent indeed! But all this event proves is that money buys you privilege, which is one of the continuing platforms Labour has railed against. Maybe Mrs/Miss/Ms Kelly should quit pretending to be a Labourite and switch sides, where patronising private enterprise is more appreciated?
I looked up Miss Kelly's profile and see she's the mother of three girls and a boy. Is she not married? There's no mention of a husband. She is supposedly a member of the Catholic Opus Dei and cool on homosexual rights, so how does being an unwed mother of four square with Catholicism? Has the Church decided that it's an acceptable status, or only if you're rich or a member of a government? I thought such 'falls' guaranteed you eternal purgatory, but perhaps things have moved on a wee bit there.
I looked up Miss Kelly's profile and see she's the mother of three girls and a boy. Is she not married? There's no mention of a husband. She is supposedly a member of the Catholic Opus Dei and cool on homosexual rights, so how does being an unwed mother of four square with Catholicism? Has the Church decided that it's an acceptable status, or only if you're rich or a member of a government? I thought such 'falls' guaranteed you eternal purgatory, but perhaps things have moved on a wee bit there.
She's widely regarded as being Cherie Blairs personal appointment, as she has allegedly viewed Kelly as her ticket into Opus Dei. The rumour mill constantly cites her as being bereft and a civil servants nightmare (or dream in somes more Machivelian eyes!!!). I don't expect her to be in a Brown cabinet, and the speed with which he drops her, might just go someway to confirming how she tacitly got the position she has.
I know people say she's a mother first and foremost, and its always difficult to argue otherwise, however, when we're talking about a former Minister of State for Education, whose campaigned on one ticket and done something else I do think it matters, and I feel you do have draw a bit of distinction. Quite simply, Ruth Kelly is no ordinary mother
I know people say she's a mother first and foremost, and its always difficult to argue otherwise, however, when we're talking about a former Minister of State for Education, whose campaigned on one ticket and done something else I do think it matters, and I feel you do have draw a bit of distinction. Quite simply, Ruth Kelly is no ordinary mother
A
Ardross
Guest
She married in 1996 a man whose name I have forgotten - he is a local government officer .
Is this true? I had assumed that Cherie Blair was liberal on certain issues such as abortion and gay rights etc, which would hardly qualify her for the sinister opus dei. But maybe not....
Its astonishing that anyone with liberal left views could f eel comfortable within this organisation, but exclusive elitist element probably seduces
must admit, there had to be some explanation for someone so lacking in charisma and seemingly ability ending up in the cabinet at such a young age
She was 36 when first in the cabinet
being an economics whizz doesnt qualify one to be a decent minister of course, which rightly has a requirement for good management and communications skills as well as acute judgement
ive always had the impression that shes struggled with her brief a bit
Of all teh countries in the world, Britain (thankfully) should be least tolerant of having a religous fundamentalist so close to the decision making process. This will continue to rebound on her
being an economics whizz doesnt qualify one to be a decent minister of course, which rightly has a requirement for good management and communications skills as well as acute judgement
ive always had the impression that shes struggled with her brief a bit
Of all teh countries in the world, Britain (thankfully) should be least tolerant of having a religous fundamentalist so close to the decision making process. This will continue to rebound on her
And any bastard that is against scientific research that could greatly allieviate the misery of certain diseases....has to be hounded out of office regardless as far as I am concerned
She can keep her beliefs to herself. If the rest of us want to see stem cell research, then she must leave us to get on with it (well not me specifically
it is the possibility of people like her blocking such developments that disturbs me
From the Times
She can keep her beliefs to herself. If the rest of us want to see stem cell research, then she must leave us to get on with it (well not me specifically
it is the possibility of people like her blocking such developments that disturbs me
From the Times
Colin Phillips
At the Start
.....................a bit like Zoey Hannon, then! 